Welcome to The Courier, Crescent School's electronic newsletter.

It's been a lovely week in school with two wonderful Nativity performances for Parents.  Do read on to find out what else has been happening this week.

Please look at the Weekly Calendar for co-curricular club changes in the final week of term.

The cover photo is Classes 1E and 2W ready for their Nativity perfomance of The Bethlehem Star.

Please click here to email The Courier.

Preview

Headmaster's Message

Headmaster's Message

Dear Parents

This week we have seen two Nativity plays from our younger children that brought great pleasure to a great many mums, dads, grandmas, grandads, staff and fellow children. They are such a traditional part of the Christmas landscape and I suspect we all have stories of our own plays when we were in school (I remember making an excellent tree one year, although I can’t remember what crucial role this played in the narrative). They serve as an important marker both in the passing of the school year and for the individual children as they progress through the year groups. Judging by the smiles on the faces of the parents as they left the school on Monday and Thursday, I am confident that we can put this one down in the ‘job done’ category.

We have also had three trips out this week, with Reception visiting the McCready theatre, which was enormously exciting for them, and the older children off to Harry Potter World for an educational visit that supports their learning in their English lessons. Year 1 and 2 were also out today at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. All of these trips were notable for the excellent behaviour of our children, who showed true Crescent manners and consideration for the general public, which is something that is a source of great pride to the staff that accompany them.

Next Tuesday sees the final big Christmas event of the season with our first carol service over at Princethorpe College. This looks like being a wonderful end to the calendar year in a fitting setting. An added bonus for us all will be that the parking should be a good deal easier than last year! I very much hope to see many of you there.

This weekend will see the tree finally go up in the Thackway household. It would help me at this point if my children could decide what they actually wanted for Christmas. With not many shopping days still to go, we need to make some progress.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Year 6 Secondary School Exam Success

Our Year 6 pupils have had lots of good news this term concerning their applications to secondary schools. In the local authority grammar school exam 70% of our children achieved the likely required score for entry next September. Of course, they won’t know for sure until they get their offers in March but that is an excellent outcome and everyone here is delighted for them.

The other big entrance exam for our children this term has been for the Foundation's senior school, Princethorpe College. Again, we have had great success and are delighted with the offers the children have received. In particular, we have been blown away by the number of scholarship offers achieved this year. 12 children in the year group have received a scholarship offer of some kind and we are currently trawling the records to see if this has ever been surpassed.

Three further children have received scholarship offers from other local independent schools.

Congratulations to all the children for their achievements - we are really proud of them all.

Best wishes

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Reports

Dear Parents

Today parents of children in Reception, Years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 will receive their child’s report for the term. If your child is in Year 5, you will receive a report at the February half term.

A great deal of thought and hard work goes into the production of these reports and they are carefully designed to provide you with the information you need regarding your son or daughter's progress during the term. We have intentionally kept the written prose format to ensure that each report is unique and tailored to the individual.

Please do share the contents of these reports with your children and use them to agree on achievable targets for them to aim towards next term. We will be going through a similar process here in school, in line with our focus this year on the use of targeted feedback to improve learning outcomes.

Electronic copies of the reports are available on My School Portal. Please do take the time to familiarise yourself with accessing these reports online by following the link. The next set of reports, for Year 5 in February and for the rest of the school at the end of the academic year, will again be sent home in hardcopy version and also viewable on My School Portal.

Please do note that from the beginning of next academic year, 2020-2021, we will be moving away entirely from paper copies to electronic versions only. Of course, we will still be able to provide hardcopies on request to those people who require them.

Best wishes

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

Absence Requests For Holiday During Term Time Reminder

Parents are discouraged from taking pupils out of school during term-time because of the impact it has on their learning. Should this be unavoidable, permission should always be sought in advance from myself.  I am able to pre-authorise absences on certain grounds such as religious observances and special family occasions.

Please ensure you submit any absence requests in good time, through either My School Portal or via the office email admin@crescentschool.co.uk.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

 

Weekly Information

Weekly Calendar

Please click on the link below to view the weekly calendar of clubs, events, fixtures and additional information for the week. 

Weekly Calendar - 16 December 2019

All co-curricular clubs have finished for the term apart from:

  • Choir
  • Hotshots
  • Ballet

There is no swimming next week.

All the co-curricular clubs can be viewed on SOCS, where you can find details of all the dates the clubs are running.  

SOCS Co-Curricular

Crescent School

News

Reception And Nursery Nativity - Everyone Loves A Baby!

On Monday 9 December, children from Pathfinders Nursery and Crescent's Reception children took to the stage to tell the story of Everyone Loves A Baby.

Except the only problem was, that the lovely children in the Nativity would rather have anything but a baby, maybe... a dog... a donkey... or even a camel instead!

That was until a very special baby was born. The children couldn't believe why all the people would come from near and far to visit this baby. But the amazing thing about this baby, was that he came to bring God's love to everyone.

That called for a party and everyone was invited. The children were allowed to stay up late to celebrate... and they realised that maybe babies weren't so bad after all!

It really was a fantastic performance that all the parents and families very much enjoyed. We clearly have some superstars amongst our littlest children. Well done to everybody!

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A Scooperdooper Story For The Bethlehem Star

Crescent School’s Key Stage 1 Nativity took place on Thursday 12 December and parents and grandparents were delighted with what was a super performance by the children from Years 1 and 2.

Transported back to Bethlehem the nativity begins with The Bethlehem Star newspaper desperate for a scoop! The editor sends her reporters out to find a story worth telling. Something to beat The Desert Sun and The Daily Veil - and not just any old story about a donkey who hurt his hoof or some slippery olive oil thieves.

So off they all go, all around Bethlehem, to see what they can find, to the market-place, the shepherds and eventually the very best inn in town where they get a scooperdooper of a story, the news that a new king, Jesus, has been born.

Full of simple humour, both the audience and children enjoyed, The Bethlehem Star really was a fabulously, funny retelling of the much-loved Christmas story.

A scooper huge well done to all the children and their teachers who have worked so hard to put the wonderful production together.

 

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Crescent's Hotshots Basketball Team Win Schools Tournament

Crescent School's Basketball team took part in a tournament on Saturday 7 December.  The team won all the games in their group against The Revel, Clifton and Welford primary schools to be crowned Tournament Champions.

Mark from Hotshots said the children were awesome!

Thank you to Mrs Oven Gibbs for providing the photos of the tournament.

Well done, we are all proud of you.

Crescent School

 

View Gallery

Year 6 Holiday Reading

Year 6 have all been asked to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone over the Christmas holidays. This a book that will form the basis to much of our learning next term. I realise that some of the children may have already read the story and if so reading another book in the fantasy genre would be beneficial to them.

The children can read the book as a family, have it read to them, listen to it or read it independently. I recommend that they do not watch the film until they have read the book.

Thank you for your support with this.

Mrs Webb
Year 6W Form Teacher

The Bebras Challenge

Children in Years 4-6 took part in The Bebras Challenge in November. This tests their logical thinking and whether they can think like a computer would. Overall, our school was well above the National average, an improvement on last year where we were only just above average. There were 13 distinctions and 12 merits in Years 4 and 5 and 10 distinctions and 11 merits in Year 6.

George, Milly, Sam S, Daniel and Chloe W have all been invited to take part in the higher level Oxford Challenge next term.

Mr Phillips
Head of ICT

 

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Mental Health Event

The ADHD Foundation will be holding a free workshop in Rugby next February which aims to equip parents/carers with a toolkit  of expert advice and support on child/adolescent mental health.

If you are interested in attending, booking details can be found here

Lynda Brazier
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator

Foundation News: Anti Fraud Reminder

Cyber-crime – please be vigilant

Parents are asked to be vigilant when reading emails relating to the payment of school fees and any other items to the Foundation.

We continue to receive reports regarding spam emails being sent to parents of independent schools asking them to pay future fees to a ‘new’ school bank account.

Please be advised there has been no change to the bank details of either Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent and there is no intention to make any changes in the foreseeable future. Any electronic notification that appears to be from any of the Foundation schools changing these details may be fraudulent.

Our bank details are available on the Parent Bills, the Online Payment Portal and for Princethorpe in the Princethorpe College Information Booklet 2019 – 2020, and only those details should be used.

Parents are asked to be vigilant in respect of any communications purporting to be from the Foundation requesting money that does not match our normal procedures.

Please note:

  • invoices are only available through the on-line parent fee portal;
  • our bank account details will NOT change during the academic year 2019-20;
  • if you receive an email purporting to amend our bank details, do not make any payment and please contact us by telephone immediately to clarify;
  • we do not email details of unsolicited discounts for payment of funds.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues in the Bursary if you are have any doubts about the correct details or indeed if anything appears suspicious.

Please contact the Bursary if you have concerns about any communication you receive and in particular if you receive any request for payment of funds outside our normal routines.

Please note we do not accept payment in cash for the fee bill.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Events

Christmas Jumper Day

Monday 16 December 2019

Our Christmas Jumper Day this year will be on Monday 16 December 2019. On that day, children should wear normal school uniform, but instead of their green pullover/cardigan, they can wear a Christmas jumper.

Please bring in £1 for our charity of the term, Shine a Light.

Mrs Monteith

 

Christmas Carol Service

Tuesday 17 December 2019 - 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Please join us for a wonderful evening of carols, readings and re-telling of the Christmas story.

This year we will be holding our Christmas Carol Service at Princethorpe College in the Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel.

All children in Years 3-6 are involved and required to attend. Please request permission from Mr Thackway if your child is unable to attend for any reason. All children are to wear winter uniform including blazers and grey tights for girls. 

It would be lovely for all friends and family from the Crescent community to join us.  Parents and children from Reception, Years 1 and 2 are very welcome to attend, however, please be mindful that the service may be a little late for some of our younger children.

Children who need to change into a costume should arrive no earlier than 6.00pm. Everyone else, including the congregation, should be seated at 6.15pm for a prompt start. There will be instrumental and vocal solos taking place as people arrive.

There will be a retiring collection in aid of our termly charity, Shine a Light. Following the service, parents are invited to join us for some seasonal refreshments in the College 6th Form Centre.

A link to book tickets can be found below:

https://princethorpe.myschoolportal.co.uk/event/174086

Kind regards

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

 

Crescent School Open Day For Prospective Parents

Friday 24 January - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, is opening its doors to prospective parents and children for an Open Day on Friday 24 January from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to meet the Crescent's headmaster, Joe Thackway, look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 521595 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk

Awards

Junior da Vinci Students

This week we say congratulations to Freya S for becoming a Junior da Vinci student in Science and Stephanie and Sophie for becoming Junior da Vinci students in English.

They will have received their Junior da Vinci badge in the Good News Assembly today.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head

Accelerated Reading Achievements

500,000 words have been read by Zahra;

Liana and Freya S have read a million words.

Keep up the reading over the Christmas holiday everyone.

Mrs Webb
Assistant Head
View Gallery

Playground Conduct Awards

Well done to Fifi and Euan who received Playground Conduct Awards, chosen by the Lunchtime Supervisors, in assembly this morning. 

Lunchtime Supervisors

 

Times Table Challenge Award

Congratulations to Isaac who achieved his Platinum Challenge Certificate for Times Tables in a record time of 1m 44s (48 tables).

The times table challenge will resume next term.  It is a drop in session in the Library with myself on a Wednesday morning for Years 2-6.

Ms Forth
Head of Maths

 

Around The Classes

Reception Roundup

Please click on the link below to read all about what the Reception Class have been learning this week.

Reception Round Up - 131219 

Mrs Pullen
Reception Class Teacher
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Class 2W English

Despite all of the Nativity and pantomime trip excitement this week, Class 2W children remain focused and hardworking.  In Wednesday's English lesson they used their developing reading skills to show their comprehension of an unseen text.

Mr Webb
Class 2W Form Teacher

Class 3S - World Human Rights Day

Class 3S used their PSHE time this week to acknowledge World Human Rights day on Tuesday 10 December. Together we explored what was important to us in terms of living safely and contentedly and discussed what we needed in life and what was only a 'want'. 

We had a brief journey through the UN Convention on the rights of the child and this helped us understand what it all meant. The UN classifies these rights as things every child should have or be able to do.

All children have the same rights. These rights are listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Almost every country has agreed to these rights. All the rights are connected to each other, and all are equally important. 

Mrs Stapleton
Class 3S Form Tutor
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Class 4M Vikings

Over this half term, Year 4 have been working on Viking homework projects. I have been thrilled with the finished articles. We have had a huge range of projects from Viking biscuits to movies, powerpoint presentations and board games. Once again the creativity, perseverance and ingenuity of Crescent children shines through.

The children have really enjoyed learning about the Vikings and I hope the projects have allowed them to share their knowledge and enjoyment with you at home too.

Mrs Yates
Head of History
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Years 3-5 Learn About General Election

This week we have been discussing what a General Election is, what it means to our families and our countries and by the time you read this - what decisions have been made!

Years 3-5 explored the different manifestos in child friendly formats and had an opportunity to consider the major issues being voted upon and what was important to them as British citizens living in the UK in 2019 and in the future.

Some budding politicians emerging? Some passionate advocates for climate change? A really worthwhile lesson in the big issues that society is facing.

Mrs Stapleton

 

View Gallery

Sofie Takes Part In Christingle Service

Sofie attended a Christingle Service last weekend at St Mark's Church and was chosen to light the Advent Candles and give a reading.

Well done Sofie.

Crescent School

 

View Gallery

Eden Performs In The Scratch Youth Performance Of Handel's Messiah

Eden took part in the Scratch Youth performance of Handel's Messiah on Saturday 7 December at The Royal Albert Hall. She sang the whole work with a youth chorus of 1200 children from schools and groups from across the UK and Europe, under the direction of Ben Parry; Artistic Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. She was thrilled to get to meet him and have her copy of the score signed!

What an amazing day for Eden!

Crescent School

View Gallery

Dorrit Stars In Shrek The Musical

Dorrit played Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical last Saturday at Warwickshire College as part of her Stagecoach Theatre group.

Fabulous pictures Dorrit!

Crescent School

View Gallery

FoC

FoC - End Of Term Roundup

Christmas Bazaar Update

A massive thank you to everyone who attended the Christmas Bazaar and to those that helped at it - we raised just over £2,000 profit at this event which is incredible. This money will be used towards equipment for the playground, equipment for Reception plus the new wellbeing area being set up at school. 

Total for the Term

In total this term we have raised over £3,300 for the FoC from cake sales, movie night, Christmas cards & gifts, Quiz night plus the Christmas Bazaar. We have also raised £1,200 in book sales and £578 for Macmillan.  A massive thank you must go to all the amazing FoC helpers who make this all possible. 

Next term

Looking forward to next term we have the following events planned:

  • FoC meeting - Monday 13 January
  • Year 3 market day - Friday 7 February
  • Valentine's disco - Friday 14 February
  • Quiz night - Friday 13 March
  • Mothers day crafts sent home - Friday 20 March
Zara Corbin
FoC Chair

FoC - Contact Information

Below are the details of the FoC Year Group Representatives. These reps will communicate with you on all our events via email, whatsapp or facebook. 

Year Group 1st Rep 2nd Rep
Reception Vicky Morley Lisa Millward
Year 1 Sanda Mocanu Fatima Masood
Year 2 Inez de Koning Karen Williams
Year 3 Emilie Crowfoot Claire Brosnan
Year 4 Semma King Anita Somerset
Year 5 Kal Mistry Amy Sarkies
Year 6 Emma Wells Victoria Akbik

 

Chairperson Zara Corbin
Treasurer Nick Brosnan
Secretary Amy Sarkies
Pre-Loved Uniform Louise Symons
Staff Reps Ms Forth and Mrs Webb
FoC email address: zaracorbin9@gmail.com
FoC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofcrescent/
 
Zara Corbin
FoC Chair



FoC - Payment Information

Cheques for the FoC should be made payable to Friends of Crescent

However, from January 2020 we will no longer be accepting cheques as a form of payment. 

We have purchased a card payment system and will from the start of January 2020 be accepting bank transfers or cash only.

Many thanks

Nick Brosnan
FoC Treasurer

Housekeeping

Lunch Menu Week Commencing 16 December 2019

Please click on the link below to view next week's lunch menu: 

Crescent Menu - 16 December 2019 

Crescent School Office

 

 

School Uniform Items Stocked At School

The following items are stocked in the School Office and can be added to your account:

  • Winter hats
  • Scarfs
  • Gloves
  • Ties
  • Swimming hats
  • Sports socks
  • Hair bands
  • Hair scrunchies
  • Hair clips
  • Sun hats
  • Music group badges - Choir, Orchestra, String, Brass and Wind

Please do pop in if you need any of the above items.

Crescent School Office

Useful School Contact Information

Please see below for useful school contact information:

Crescent School Office
01788 521595
admin@crescentschool.co.uk
Postal address: Crescent School, Bawnmore Road, Bilton, Rugby CV22 7QH
 
After School Club
01788 523850
 
Bills, Fees and Online Payment
01926 634273
georginamalin@princethorpe.co.uk
 
Registrar
01788 523851
admissions@crescentschool.co.uk
 
School Shop and Uniform
01926 634272
uniform@princethorpe.co.uk
 
Princethorpe College General Office
01926 634200
post@princethorpe.co.uk
 
Pathfinders Nursery
01788 813666
info@pathfindersnursery.co.uk
 
twitter:    @CrescentSchRug
facebook: @cres.school

Term Dates For 2019-20 And 2020-21

Please find below term dates for this academic year and next:

2019/20

Michaelmas Term 
Term starts Monday 2 September 2019
Half Term Saturday 19 October to Sunday 3 November 2019
End of Term Wednesday 18 December 2019
 
Lent Term 
Term starts Monday 6 January 2020
Half Term Saturday 15 February to Sunday 23 February 2020
End of Term Friday 27 March 2020
 
Trinity Term 
Term starts Monday 20 April 2020
May Bank Holiday Friday 8 May 2020 (no school)
Half Term Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2020
End of Term Wednesday 1 July 2020
 
2020/21
 
Michaelmas Term
Term starts Tuesday 1 September 2020
Half Term Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2020
Term ends Tuesday 15 December 2020

Lent Term
Term starts Tuesday 5 January 2021
Half Term Saturday 13 February to Sunday 21 February 2021
Term ends Friday 26 March 2021

Trinity Term
Term starts Monday 19 April 2021
May Bank holiday - Monday 3 May 2021 (no school)
Half Term Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June 2021
Term ends Tuesday 6 July 2021

Outside School

Courier Kids Club Applications

Calling all budding reporters!!

After Christmas I will be recruiting a new group of Courier Kids reporters. This will be open to Classes 4M, 5F, 6W and 6Y. The club meets each week to produce a children’s section for the Courier.

If your child would like to join this club then they need to apply to me in writing outlining their ideas for what they would like to see in the ‘Courier Kids’ section of Crescent Courier and why they would be a good reporter. The children can apply to me before the end of this year, the deadline for applications is Wednesday 18 December at midday. My email for any applications to be sent to is amandayates@crescentschool.co.uk or the children can hand it to me in school. 

I will then be selecting two children from each class to create a team of eight. This team will remain in place for the whole term until Easter. 

The team will be notified by the end of the day on Thursday 19 December and the club will begin on Tuesday 7 January starting promptly at 8.15am.

This is a fun and interesting club which I hope your children will be keen to join!

Mrs Yates
Class 6Y Form Tutor